The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-25
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES.
The Vital Principles and Constitutional
Provisions of Our Free Government.
The Oldest Formula for Representative Re-
publc-Three Things Essential to Nation
al Life-Sermon by Rev. DR.. Marine.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
LAFAYETTE, Jan. 24-Rev. A. Marine, d. d.,
yesterday preached sermon upon 1.-THE Funoa-
mental Principles and Constitutional Provisions
of Our Free Government which, by request OF
the members of the congregation and Others, is
sent to the Indianapolis Journal for publca-
tion:
Text-HarLen now unto my voice and ! will give
thee counsel and God shall be with thee DC tnou toa
the people to godward that thou mayest bring the
causes unto God. And thou shalt teach them ordI-
nances and laws, and shalt show them the way
wherein they walk and the work that they must
do thou shalt provide out OF all the people
able men, such as fear God, men OF truth hating
covetousness and place such over them 10 DO rulers
Exodus xviii 1921.
l regard this text as the fountain Of good gov
eminent. 1t is the first record of republican
commonwealth, the very beginning of public po-
Htcal liberty This text is remarkable for its
remote antiquity; very rarely such remote oc-
currences live through the remembrance of the
ages. But this text lives; and another remarka-
BILE thing about 1t is that 1t is apparently unin-
spired, merely common sense idea conceived
by Jethro. the father-inlaw of Moses,
and given to his son-in-law for
his acceptance. Moses accepted 1t, God
sanctioned it and it became the constitution
of the United States of Israel And what is
still more remarkable is this that this text has
come on down through the ages to be the FONDA
Republic 10 bni!t, and is incorporated into the
Constitution of the United States of America.
1t contains three fundamental principles of our
free government: H. Supremacy of law. Z. Sow
ere'gnty of the people 81 Qualifications of the
men to be chosen the representatives and
rulers Of the people. My conception Of religion
is that it is something deep. as high, as broad
as whatever concerns humanity. Like the sun
in his circuit, there is nothing hid from the
heat thereof" It includes, therefore, not only
the relation Of the individual soul to God, but
also and equally the relations of men to each
other
infidelity to political righteousness falls with
In the scope of religion, and therefore, of the
pulpit quite as fully as matters of personal
morality social order. The prophets of all
ages have carried on their hearts the burdens of
governments, and have uttered their messages
of Judgment and warning against national sins.
] offer apology, then, for calling your at
tention to what / am fully persuaded comes
lsgitimatey within the purview of pulpit discus
eion
From the pulpit do not speak to men alone
or chiefly. The fundamental principles of our
government are for the most part discussed
during the heat and acrimony Of the political
campaign. and before audiences made up almost
entirely of men. 1t certainly cannot be denied
but what freedom and progress is as much to
women as to men. They certainly suffer as much
in the event OF any national calamity. When
pestence Is In the air 1t searches out all secret
places, and so the health of the mansion may de-
pend on the condition Of the hoval. And when
public calamity comes the shadow that oroods
over the country will creep across every door
way and darken every hearthstone. They, then,
who would effectuaily guard the home, must
watch for the welfare of the country.
1t was deemed not only fitting but heroic for
mothers and daughters to think, and plan. and
work, and suffer for our country in the days OF
battle. Ia it any less for them to do it when
the cloud that lowers is not the smoke OF the
cannon, but the poisonous exbalations of ig
norance passion, prejudice, chicanery and politi
oh <ko< vtn0 sv,k< osv
from the low places Of our civilization
Countries die not alone by war. Indeed, it may
be>said that they never die by war alone. War
IL only the gale that lays them low when they
). never die suddenly. Disease creeps upon them
slowly, and through many years; and If it is pa
triotic and noble for women to dress their coun
trys wounds, and celebrate its victories, is it no
quite as much so for them 20 watch for the ma
ton q prosperity In times Of peacel
1t is, therefore, essential that men, womel
and children should be familiar with the funda
mental principles and learn the conditions of ma
tional health and growth. 1t is not only nob
and patriotic thinc to die for your country. bu
1t Is equally so to live for your country. Tru
patriotism is q great deal more than love TO
ones country. There thousands of il
our land to-day who are doing all they can t.
disgrace and ruin the Republic in the name o
patriotism, because their love of country is fool
ish and not wise. Let us consider that which i
Fundamental and absolutely so, to the prosper
us consider the supremacy of law as a cardna
principle of civil government In the beginning
the people must be taught statutes and law
necessary for the preservation of society. Man
as soon as he began to walk, was naturally dis
posed to do as ne pleased and without nue.
regard to what his fellow pleased
II. must be admitted that man is proud selfish
licentous and revengeful, 30 that it is reces
sary. when he comes into society, that ne shout
be willing to submit to laws under which al
should have equal rights There is no sue
10 thing as personal liberty againstsoveregn Law
The idea of personal liberty league In this Re
public 10 an absurdity There are no laws il
tEis country that implnge on the personal libel
frties of any man who is willing to be a law-abid
Ing citizen. No individual rights can be set u
against law in this country. When a set of me
gather together for the purpose of INTENTIONAL
end systematically ignoring violating law i
the supposed interest of individuals. business o
party, they at once become revolutionary. an
are entitled to no more respect than a mob; in
deed they are a mob 1t matters not whethe
their concave is held in saloon in the interest
of the whisky league, or on the Sepate floor G
the State in the interests of political party,
can be dignifsd by no other name than that of
mob. Violence may not be resortsd to in eithe
case. but when strategy and craftiness sui
etituted ip the place of violence for the sam
ends. what is it but mob2 Now. if this cour
Dry is to maintain the majesty ard supremac
0f law, the mob cannot be justified, nor unde
fny circumstances the public sanction
We are told that possibly there may be excep
lions to this general estimate of the mob
Its good effect in San Francisco some years age
Rno the part played in the commune in Paris
would seem to Justify the action of the mob a
least under certain circumstances Now, as I
the action OF the vigilance committee in Call
fornia, there was some grounds of justification
because this vigilance committee acted in tn
absence OF law Society at that time in tina
place, was made up largely of adventurers an
miners, who had come together in a territor
tmperfectly organized and unprotected by tn
ordinary methods OF AS IN
in Paris. we may say at best that it wa
"Frenchy,' entirely too ''Frenchy' for any us
whatever in this country. We are told that la,
withou. penalty is useless. Very true; and la,
with penalty is useless when not enforced
Now. when officers of the law fail to 90 thei
duty. and hy tho laws delay and the weakness {
prosecutions great criminals in the end 60 sec
free, what is To be done for the protection of lif